Tim's Tavern

Better burgers, and a good jukebox, too

On the Cheap by Jason Weinzimer

Everyone knows the Four Seasons makes an incredible $14 burger. But for less than a third of that price, an unassuming South End neighborhood bar a 10-minute walk away sells burgers so richly flavored they don't even need ketchup. At $4 for a hamburger -- $4.25 with cheese, and $4.75 with bacon and cheese -- you can go with a friend, throw yourselves a party, and leave full and buzzed for less than $25, including tip.

Along with the hockey-puck-size burgers, a good choice is the generous thick-cut French fry and onion ring combo ($2.50); it perks up well with the house hot sauce. Crisp $1.50 Bud drafts make a fine accompaniment to all the cholesterol. Between bites, check out the clientele: located on the edge of the South End, Tim's draws local barflies, Back Bay office workers, off-duty cops, and neighborhood artists. It's great people-watching. Factor in an eclectic jukebox heavy on funk, disco, and R&B, and you may have the perfect laid-back bar -- one that also happens to have food worth traveling for.

Tim's Tavern, located at 329 Columbus Avenue, in Boston, is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight. Call 437-6898.

---

The On the Cheap archive

---